County: Wexford Site name: RAMSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WX050-015 Licence number: E4144, C432
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 679703m, N 603984m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.181900, -6.834500
Planning permission for the demolition of an existing residence (Carnivan House) and the construction of a replacement low-level single-storey dwelling, together with associated car-parking area, effluent treatment area and general site development works at Ramstown, Fethard, required that all general site preparation works, including removal of former floor slabs, foundations and all topsoil-stripping be monitored.
The development area is located within the Zone of Archaeological Potential established for Baginbun (WX050-015), the site of one of the earliest landing areas associated with the Anglo-Norman invasion. Baginbun Head includes a promontory fort (WX050-01501) which was refortified by a small military force of Anglo-Normans under Raymond Le Gros in 1170 and was subsequently successfully defended from an attack by an Irish/Hiberno-Norse army from Waterford. Following defeat of the Irish/Anglo-Norse army and the execution of their leaders, the neck of the headland was fortified by the construction of an earthwork of two banks and two ditches; a section of this linear earthwork (WX050-01502) forms the southern boundary to the development area. In addition, the earthworks are classified as a National Monument and, consequently, the development works were subject to Ministerial Consent.
All topsoil-stripping/general ground reductions onto the surfaces of the underlying subsoils were monitored. The topsoil was stripped and removed in spits, with each spit
subject to metal-detecting and visual inspection. In addition, the removed topsoil was raked through in an attempt to maximise the retrieval of any possible artefactual material.
Ground reduction works/topsoil-stripping of the area of the new house and associated construction storage/activity areas, effluent treatment area and associated pipe route, car-parking area, garden paths and maintenance way for effluent treatment areas were monitored. No subsurface features of archaeological interest were uncovered and no artefacts of archaeological interest were recovered.
Byrne Mullins & Associates, 7 Cnoc Na Greine Square, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
